Location-aware task management systems and methods

ABSTRACT

Location-aware task management solutions are disclosed that can be used in a variety of task-management applications that prioritize tasks associated with a plurality of remote locations, based at least in part on the location of the remote user. For instance, certain systems utilize media access control (MAC) addresses of a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs) to identify and/or recommend which of a plurality of tasks should be completed by one or more remote users responsible for completing the tasks. In other instances, certain systems utilize GPS or RFID information to identify and/or recommend which of a plurality of tasks should be completed by one or more remote users responsible for completing the tasks.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.12/906,653, filed Oct. 18, 2010, and titled “Location-Aware TaskManagement Systems and Methods,” which claims the benefit of priorityunder 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/252,844, filed on Oct. 19, 2009 and titled “Location-Aware TaskManagement Systems and Methods,” the entireties of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference to be considered part of thisspecification.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments generally relate to task management systems and methods thatutilize location information for completing and/or prioritizing one ormore tasks. In particular, embodiments relate to dynamicallyreprioritizing an information technology (IT) help desk assigned tasklist based, at least in part, on location information.

As more and more companies rely on computers, the information technology(IT) help desk plays a key role in maintaining employee productivity inincreasingly complex IT environments. The help desk not only logs andresolves routine incidents, but also becomes the front end for allcomplaints, change requests, and any other issues IT end-users mighthave. When IT end-users' open issues are not addressed in a timely andefficient manner, employee productivity decreases.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods disclosed herein can be used in a variety oftask-management applications to complete and/or prioritize tasksassociated with a plurality of remote locations. For instance, certainembodiments utilize media access control (MAC) addresses of a pluralityof wireless access points (WAPs) to identify and/or recommend which of aplurality of tasks should be completed by one or more remote usersresponsible for completing the tasks.

In certain embodiments, method of dynamically reprioritizing aninformation technology (IT) task database is disclosed. The methodcomprises receiving from a server a wireless access point (WAP)database, where the WAP database comprises at least one access address.The at least one access address is associated with at least one firstlocation. The method further comprises receiving from the server a taskdatabase, where the task database comprises at least one task. The atleast one task is assigned to the task database by an IT administratorand the at least one assigned task has a first priority and isassociated with a physical location. The method further comprisesconnecting to a WAP at a current location, identifying an access addressassociated with the WAP at the current location, transforming thecurrent location access address into the at least one assigned task, andreprioritizing the assigned tasks in the task database based at least inpart on the current location, where the reprioritized task databasecomprises the at least one assigned task. The at least one assigned taskhas a second priority, and the second priority is different from thefirst priority.

In certain embodiments the access address comprises a media accesscontrol (MAC) address, identifying an access address associated with theWAP at the current location comprises identifying a MAC addressassociated with the WAP at the current location, and transforming thecurrent location access address into the at least one assigned taskcomprises transforming the current location MAC address into the atleast one assigned task.

In certain embodiments, transforming the current location MAC addressinto the at least one assigned task comprises using the current locationMAC address as the at least one access address in the WAP database,identifying the at least one first location using the WAP database andthe current location MAC address, using the at least one first locationas the physical address associated with the at least one assigned taskin the assigned task database, and identifying the at least one assignedtask using the task database and the at least one first location.

In certain embodiments, a computer readable storage medium comprisingcomputer executable instructions configured to implement a method ofdynamically reprioritizing an information technology (IT) task databaseis disclosed. The method comprises receiving from a server a wirelessaccess point (WAP) database, where the WAP database comprises at leastone access address. The at least one access address is associated withat least one first location. The method further comprises receiving fromthe server a task database, where the task database comprises at leastone task. The at least one task is assigned to the task database by anIT administrator, and the at least one assigned task has a firstpriority and is associated with a physical location. The method furthercomprises connecting to a WAP at a current location, identifying anaccess address associated with the WAP at the current location,transforming the current location access address into the at least oneassigned task, and reprioritizing the assigned tasks in the taskdatabase based at least in part on the current location, where thereprioritized task database comprises the at least one assigned task.The at least one assigned task has a second priority, and the secondpriority is different from the first priority.

In certain embodiments, a system for dynamically reprioritizing aninformation technology (IT) task database is disclosed. The systemcomprises an IT server and the IT server comprises a first computerprocessor and a first task management module. The first task managementmodule is configured to receive from an IT administrator task dataindicative of at least one task and a physical location associated withthe at least one task, and transform the task data into task database.The IT task database comprises the at least one task, the physicallocation associated with the at least one task, and a first priorityassociated with the at least one task. The first task management moduleis further configured to receive wireless access point (WAP) dataindicative of at least one access address and at least one firstlocation associated with the at least one access address, and transformthe WAP data into a WAP database. The WAP database comprising the atleast one access address and the at least one first location associatedwith the at least one access address.

The system further comprises a computing device and the computing devicecomprises a second computer processor and a second task managementmodule. The second task management module is configured to receivelocation information, receive the task database and the WAP databasefrom the IT server, and transform the task database into a reprioritizedtask list. The reprioritized task list comprises the at least one task,the physical location associated with the at least one task, and asecond priority, where the second priority is different from the firstpriority and where the second priority based at least in part on thelocation information.

For purposes of summarizing the disclosure, certain aspects, advantagesand novel features of the inventions have been described herein. It isto be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may beachieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention.Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner thatachieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taughtherein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taughtor suggested herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Throughout the drawings, reference numbers are re-used to indicatecorrespondence between referenced elements. The drawings, associateddescriptions, and specific implementation are provided to illustrateembodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of thedisclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates departments or locations in wireless communicationwith a WAP, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of an IT server.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary WAP database and an exemplary IT taskdatabase associated with an IT server, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a computing device.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an IT task management system,according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram including further details of the ITtask management system of FIG. 5, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary location-awarenessprioritization process for the IT task management system of FIGS. 5 and6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An issue tracking system, trouble ticket system, support ticket, orincident ticket system can be a software program that maintains lists ofissues as needed by organizations. The issue tracking system can be usedto create, update and resolve reported customer issues. A ticket is afile contained within an issue tracking system which containsinformation about an incident reported by an end user.

An IT department may receive complaints, requests and other issues ITend-users might have and may issue tickets to identify the issue forresolution. IT department tickets can contain information about supportinterventions made by the help desk staff on behalf of end-users whoreport incidents that prevent them from working on their computers. TheIT help desk staff are dispatched to resolve the end-users' IT issues.

In certain embodiments, location-aware task management systems andmethods are used in an IT help desk environment to enable help deskstaff to manage and/or prioritize end-user issues in a more efficientmanner. For example, remote help desk users or administrators can beequipped with a ticket tracking mechanism (e.g., such as a clientapplication on portable computing device) so that end-users' open issuescan be addressed in a timely manner, and productivity levels remain inline with business objectives. Moreover, such end-user issues can befurther prioritized based on location information and/or priorityinformation associated with the location of the open issue(s), such asby utilizing WAP MAC address information. As an example, certainembodiments can be integrated with the HELP DESK AUTHORITY help desksoftware solution commercially available from ScriptLogic Corporation(Boca Raton, Fla.).

The features of the inventive systems and methods will now be describedwith reference to the drawings summarized above.

FIG. 1 illustrates departments or locations in wireless communicationwith WAPs, according to certain embodiments. Each WAP is associated witha unique MAC address. As shown in FIG. 1, both a department or locationA 100 and a department or location B 102 are in wireless communicationwith a first WAP 104 having a unique MAC address 00-2f-53-de-76-f3. Incertain embodiments, the department or location 100, 102 can comprise aphysical location and/or a location defined at least in part by thesignal strength of the first WAP 104. In yet other embodiments, thedepartment or location 100, 102 are defined by those machines and/orusers (e.g., group of users) that are authorized to access the first WAP104. For instance, the department or location can comprise one or morerooms, buildings, floors, areas, groups, cities or any othergeographically separate location, combinations of the same or the like.

In yet other embodiments, one or more of the end-users and/or devices ofparticular locations/departments 100, 102 do not need to be in wirelesscommunication with their associated WAP 104. Rather, the associated WAP104 can be one that is merely in closest proximity to thelocation/department 100, 102, and such location/department end-users canbe coupled to one or more other networks, such as a local area network,via wired or wireless communication without accessing the first WAP 104.In such embodiments, the first WAP 104 is used as a means of identifyingthe relative physical location of the department 100, 102.

Likewise, as also shown in FIG. 1, both a department or location C 106and a department or location D 108 are in communication with and/orassociated with a second WAP 110 having a unique MAC address00-2f-53-de-76-ba.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a server 200,such as, for example, an IT help desk server 200. The server comprisesone or more computers 202 and memory 204. The computers 202 comprise, byway of example, processors, program logic, or other substrateconfigurations representing data and instructions, which operate asdescribed herein. In other embodiments, the processors can comprisecontroller circuitry, processor circuitry, processors, general-purposesingle-chip or multi-chip microprocessors, digital signal processors,embedded microprocessors, microcontrollers and the like.

The memory 204 can comprise one or more logical and/or physical datastorage systems for storing data and applications used by the server200. In an embodiment, the memory 204 comprises a task managementapplication 206, a WAP database 208, and an assigned task database 210.

In certain embodiments, locations within an organization are mapped to aspecific WAP based on the WAP's unique MAC address and are stored withinthe WAP database 208 for later retrieval. As illustrated in FIG. 2, incertain embodiments, the WAP database 208 is stored on the server 200that hosts the task management application 206.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary WAP database 308 stored on the IT helpdesk server 200, according to certain embodiments. The WAP database 308identifies each department/location 100, 102, 106, 108 and the MACaddress of the WAP 104, 110 associated with the specificdepartment/location 100, 102, 106, 108. For example, the WAP database308 identifies department/location A 100 and department/location B 102with the MAC address 00-2f-53-de-76-f3 of the first WAP 104. Further,the WAP database 308 identifies department/location C 106 anddepartment/location D 108 with MAC address 00-2f-53-de-76-ba of thesecond WAP 110.

In certain embodiments, this mapping of the location/department 100,102, 106, 108 can be performed automatically and/or generated manuallyby a user at a central location/server 200 by, for example, entering thelocation and associated WAP MAC address into an application, such as thetask management application 206.

In certain embodiments, the IT help desk receives tasks from one or moredepartments/locations, and the tasks are entered, either automaticallyor manually, into the task management application 206 to create theassigned task database 210. Moreover, in certain further embodiments,each task can also include priority information based on the type oftask, the complexity, severity or urgency of the task, the end-user(s)involved, the importance the end-user places on the task, combinationsof the same or the like. For example, replacing hardware may have ahigher priority than fixing a software issue. In another example, oneend-user may occupy a position of higher importance in the companyhierarchy than other end-users also reporting IT tasks and may, as aresult, have a higher priority than the other end-users.

FIG. 3 also illustrates an exemplary IT help desk assigned task database310 stored on the IT help desk server 200, according to certainembodiments. In an embodiment, the assigned task database 310 comprisesat least one task, at least one priority, and at least one location. Inother embodiments, the assigned task database 310 further comprisesinformation, such as, for example, the identity of who reported theproblem to the help desk, the time of day of the report, the date andtime of the report, a description of the problem, attached relateddocuments, equipment used, asset tag information, and the like. Theassigned task database 310 identifies each task, its associatedpriority, and its associated location. For example, the task managementapplication 206 assigned Task 1 a priority of one and the repair islocated in department/location B 102. The task management application206 assigned Task 2 a priority of three and the repair is also locatedin department/location B 102. Finally, Task 3, located indepartment/location C 106, also has a priority of two, while Task 4,located in department/location D 108, has a priority of one.

In certain embodiments, the task management application 206 comprises alocation-awareness prioritization-based task application 206, which usesthe entries from the WAP database 208 as one of the properties of eachtask along with the other properties that assist to establishprioritization, as discussed above. Moreover, in certain embodiments,the location for each task can be assigned (e.g., automatically, by theuser or by an administrator) as part of the inputting of the task usingthe task management application 206.

In certain embodiments, a remote user, such as, for example, a member ofthe help desk staff at a location remote to the server 200, uses thelocation information to determine a priority of one or more tasks to becompleted by the remote user. For instance, in certain embodiments, theprioritization method is used in an environment including one or moreremote users each having a portable computing device, for example, alaptop, a pager, a Smartphone, a cellular phone, PDA, or the like, thatexecutes a client-side application for displaying open tasks to theparticular remote user.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a remote user's computing device400. The computing device 400 comprises one or more computers 402,memory 404, and a display 414. The computers 402 comprise, by way ofexample, processors, program logic, or other substrate configurationsrepresenting data and instructions, which operate as described herein.In other embodiments, the processors can comprise controller circuitry,processor circuitry, processors, general-purpose single-chip ormulti-chip microprocessors, digital signal processors, embeddedmicroprocessors, microcontrollers and the like.

The memory 404 can comprise one or more logical and/or physical datastorage systems for storing data and applications used by the computingdevice 400. In an embodiment, the memory 404 comprises a task managementapplication 406, a WAP database 408, an assigned task database 410, anda reprioritized task list 412.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a block diagram of an IT help desk taskmanagement system 500, according to certain embodiments. Referring toFIG. 5, the IT help desk task management system 500 comprises the server200 and at least one remote computing device 400. In an embodiment, theremote computing device 400 communicates through a network 502 to theserver 200. The network 502 can be a private network or a public widearea network, such as the Internet. In other embodiments, the network502 can be any communication system including by way of example,telephone networks, wireless data transmission systems, two-way cablesystems, customized computer networks, interactive kiosk networks,interactive television networks, and the like. As shown in FIG. 6, theremote computing device 400 further communicates with the nearby WAP104.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary location-awarenessprioritization process 700 for prioritizing tasks based at least in parton location information. For example, IT help desk task managementsystem 500 can use the location-awareness prioritization process 700 todynamically prioritize IT help desk tasks based at least in part onlocation information. For exemplary purposes, the location-awarenessprioritization process 700 will be described with reference to thecomponents of the IT help desk task management system 500 of FIGS. 5 and6.

The location-awareness prioritization process 700 begins at State 702.At States 702-704, the remote computing device 400 receives locationinformation. In an embodiment, the remote computing device 400 connectsto the nearby WAP 104 at State 702. When the remote computing device 400connects to the nearby WAP 104, the remote computing device 400 notesthe MAC address at State 704. For example, when the remote computingdevice 400 connects to the first WAP 104, the computing device 400 readsthe MAC address 00-2f-53-de-76-f3.

In further embodiments, the remote computing device 400 receiveslocation information as global positioning information from the nearbylocation 100, 102, 106, 108 having a global positioning system (GPS). Inan embodiment, the remote computing device 400 connects to the nearbyGPS system, and in State 704 receives the location information from theGPS system.

In yet further embodiments, the remote computing device 400 receiveslocation information as radio frequency identification information(RFID) from the nearby location 100, 102, 106, 108 having an RFIDdevice. In an embodiment, the remote computing device 400 connects tothe nearby RFID device, and in State 704 receives the locationinformation from the RFID device.

In State 706, the remote computing device 400 receives the taskmanagement application 206. In an embodiment, the remote computingdevice 400 accesses through the network 502 the task managementapplication 206 stored on the server 200. In another embodiment, thecomputing device 400 retrieves the task management application 206 fromthe server 200 and stores it as the task management application 406 foruse in determining the location based priority of the tasks.

At State 708, the remote computing device 400 receives the WAP database208. In an embodiment, the remote computing device 400 accesses throughthe network 502 the WAP database 208 stored on the server 200. Inanother embodiment, the remote computing device 400 retrieves the WAPdatabase 208 from the server 200 and stores it as the WAP database 408for use in determining the priority of the tasks, based at least in parton the location of the task.

At State 710, the remote computing device 400 receives the assigned taskdatabase 210. In an embodiment, the remote computing device 400 accessesthrough the network 502 the assigned task database 210 stored on theserver 200. In another embodiment, the remote computing device 400retrieves the assigned task database 210 from the server 200 and storesit as the assigned task database 410 for use in determining the priorityof the tasks, based at least in part on the location of the task.

In an embodiment, the location-awareness prioritization process 700transforms the location information identified at State 704 into nearbyassigned tasks. States 712-718 provide further details of thetransformation, according to an embodiment.

At State 712, the task management application 406 accesses the WAPdatabase 408, and, at State 714, identifies one or more locations 100,102 mapped to the first WAP 104 using its MAC address. In anotherembodiment, at State 712, the computing device 400 accesses the taskmanagement application 206 on the server 200 and, at State 714,identifies one or more locations 100, 102 mapped to the first WAP 104using its MAC address. In yet another embodiment, at State 712, the taskmanagement application 406 accesses the WAP database 208 on the server200 and, at State 714, identifies one or more locations 100, 102 mappedto the first WAP 104 using its MAC address. In yet another embodiment,at State 712, the remote computing device 400 can prompt a remote userof the remote computing device 400 to associate a given location 100,102 with the WAP 104 and, at State 714, the remote user inputs theassociation into the remote computing device 400.

In another embodiment, at State 712, the task management application 406accesses the WAP database 408, and at State 714, identifies one or morelocations associated with the GPS information. In another embodiment, atState 712, the computing device 400 accesses the task managementapplication 206 on the server 200, and at State 714, identifies one ormore locations 100, 102 associated with the GPS information. In yetanother embodiment, at State 712, the task management application 406accesses the WAP database 208 on the server 200 and, at State 714,identifies one or more locations 100, 102 associated with the GPSinformation.

In another embodiment, at State 712, the task management application 406accesses the WAP database 408, and at State 714, identifies one or morelocations 100, 102 associated with the RFID information. In anotherembodiment, at State 712, the computing device 400 accesses the taskmanagement application 206 on the server 200 and, at State 714,identifies one or more locations 100, 102 associated with the RFIDinformation. In yet another embodiment, at State 712, the taskmanagement application 406 accesses the WAP database 208 on the server200 and at State 714, identifies one or more locations 100, 102associated with the RFID information.

At State 716, the remote computing device 400 accesses the assigned taskdatabase 410, and, at State 718, identifies one or more tasks (e.g.,Tasks 1-3) associated with the location 100, 102 (e.g.,department/location A and department/location B). In another embodiment,at State 716, the remote computing device 400 accesses the taskmanagement application 206 on the server 200 and, at State 718,identifies one or more tasks associated with the location 100, 102. Inyet another embodiment, the task management application 406 accesses theassigned task database 210 on the server 200 at State 716, andidentifies, at State 718, one or more tasks associated with the location100, 102.

At State 720, in an embodiment, the computing device 400 re-evaluatesthe order or the priority of the assigned tasks, based at least in part,on the location information. At State 720, in another embodiment, thecomputing device 400 dynamically re-evaluates the order or the priorityof the assigned tasks, based at least in part, on the current locationof the remote user. For example, the remote computing device 400 cannotify the IT help desk staff member to attend to IT tasks in the samearea to avoid inefficient back and forth travel between multipledepartments/locations.

In another embodiment, the remote computing device 400 reassess thepriority of the tasks in the assigned task database 408 to include thelocation of the remote user to create the reprioritized task list 412.For example, the initial priorities assigned to the tasks in theassigned task database 210, 410 may not have taken into considerationthe location of the remote user. Once the remote computing device 400identifies the location of the remote user using, for example, the MACaddress of the nearby WAP, global positioning information, RDIF datafrom a nearby RFID device, or the like, the remote computing device 400can re-evaluate the priority of the assigned tasks, based at least inpart on the location information. Dynamically re-evaluating the priorityof the assigned tasks to include location information increases theefficiency of the remote user assigned to resolve the open issues. Table1 comprises a non-exhaustive list of factors that can be considered inre-evaluating the priority of the assigned tasks.

TABLE 1 Task Prioritization Factors Location of the Remote User Locationof the End-User Type of Task Complexity of Task Urgency of Task Severityof Task Importance the End-User Places on the Task Importance of theEnd-User Involved

In certain embodiments, the remote user is given the opportunity toreprioritize or re-order the assigned tasks. For example, the taskmanagement application 206, 406 can suggest to the remote user thatassigned task database 201, 410 be reprioritized based, at least inpart, on the location of the remote user. In other embodiments, the taskmanagement application 206, 406 mandates that assigned task database201, 410 be reprioritized based, at least in part, on the location ofthe remote user. For example, the task management application 206, 406automatically reprioritizes or re-orders the assigned task database 201,410 based, at least in part, on location information and automaticallynotifies the remote user of the reprioritized task list 412.

Referring to FIG. 6 and State 720, the remote computing device 400reprioritizes the assigned task database 210, 410 to create theexemplary reprioritized assigned task list 600. In an embodiment, theremote computing device 400 identifies locations 100, 102 associatedwith or mapped to the unique MAC address of WAP 104 using the WAPdatabase 208, 408. Then, the remote computing device 400 correlates theidentified locations 100, 102 with Tasks 1, 2, and 3 using the assignedtask database 210, 410, transforming the location information intoassigned tasks. Next, the location-aware remote computing device 400creates the exemplary reprioritized task list 600.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the priority of Tasks 2 and 3 has changed,based at least in part on the location of the remote user. Task 2,originally having a priority of three as shown in the assigned taskdatabase 210, 410, has been revised. Task 2 in the exemplaryreprioritized task list 600 has a priority of two. Likewise, thepriority of Task 4 has been revised from a priority of one in theassigned task database 210, 410 to a priority of three in the exemplaryreprioritized task list 600.

Finally, at State 722, the remote computing device 400 optionallynotifies the remote user of the new task priorities. The notificationcan be on the display 414, from a printout, audibly, in any combination,or the like.

Depending on the embodiment, certain acts, events, or functions of anyof the algorithms described herein can be performed in a differentsequence, can be added, merged, or left out all together (e.g., not alldescribed acts or events are necessary for the practice of thealgorithm). Moreover, in certain embodiments, acts or events can beperformed concurrently, e.g., through multi-threaded processing,interrupt processing, or multiple processors or processor cores or onother parallel architectures, rather than sequentially.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and algorithm stepsdescribed in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can beimplemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinationsof both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware andsoftware, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, and stepshave been described above generally in terms of their functionality.Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or softwaredepends upon the particular application and design constraints imposedon the overall system. The described functionality can be implemented invarying ways for each particular application, but such implementationdecisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from thescope of the disclosure.

The various illustrative logical blocks and modules described inconnection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented orperformed by a machine, such as a general purpose processor, a digitalsignal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit(ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmablelogic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein. A general purpose processor can be a microprocessor,but in the alternative, the processor can be a controller,microcontroller, or state machine, combinations of the same, or thelike. A processor can also be implemented as a combination of computingdevices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a pluralityof microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with aDSP core, or any other such configuration.

The steps of a method, process, or algorithm described in connectionwith the embodiments disclosed herein can be embodied directly inhardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in acombination of the two. A software module can reside in RAM memory,flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, harddisk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readablestorage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium can becoupled to the processor such that the processor can read informationfrom, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative,the storage medium can be integral to the processor. The processor andthe storage medium can reside in an ASIC. The ASIC can reside in a userterminal. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium canreside as discrete components in a user terminal.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “might,”“may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, orotherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intendedto convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments donot include, certain features, elements and/or states. Thus, suchconditional language is not generally intended to imply that features,elements and/or states are in any way required for one or moreembodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logicfor deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether thesefeatures, elements and/or states are included or are to be performed inany particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “including,”“having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in anopen-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features,acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in itsinclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, forexample, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some,or all of the elements in the list.

While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointedout novel features as applied to various embodiments, it will beunderstood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in theform and details of the devices or algorithms illustrated can be madewithout departing from the spirit of the disclosure. As will berecognized, certain embodiments of the inventions described herein canbe embodied within a form that does not provide all of the features andbenefits set forth herein, as some features can be used or practicedseparately from others. The scope of certain inventions disclosed hereinis indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription. All changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for dynamically reprioritizing aninformation technology (IT) task database, the system comprising an ITserver, the IT server comprising: first computer hardware including atleast a first computer processor; and a first task management modulestored in computer-readable storage and comprising computer-readableinstructions, that when executed by the first computer processor, causethe first computer hardware to perform operations defined by thecomputer-executable instructions the first task management moduleconfigured to: receive from an IT administrator task data indicative ofat least one task and a physical location associated with the at leastone task; transform the task data into a task database, the taskdatabase comprising the at least one task, the physical locationassociated with the at least one task, and a first priority associatedwith the at least one task; receive wireless access point (WAP) dataindicative of at least one access address and at least one firstlocation associated with the at least one access address; and transformthe WAP data into a WAP database, the WAP database comprising the atleast one access address and the at least one first location associatedwith the at least one access address; the system further comprising acomputing device, the computing device comprising: second computerhardware including at least a second computer processor; and a secondtask management module stored in second computer-readable storage andcomprising computer-readable instructions, that when executed by thesecond computer processor, cause the second computer hardware to performoperations defined by the computer-executable instructions, the secondtask management module configured to: receive location information;receive the task database and the WAP database from the IT server; andtransform the task database into a reprioritized task list, thereprioritized task list comprising the at least one task, the physicallocation associated with the at least one task, and a second priorityassociated with the at least one task, the second priority beingdifferent from the first priority, the second priority being based atleast in part on the location information.
 2. The system of claim 1wherein the location information comprises a media access control (MAC)address from a wireless access point (WAP) at a current location.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2 wherein transforming the task database into thereprioritized task list comprises: using the current location MACaddress as the at least one access address in the WAP database;identifying the at least one first location using the WAP database andthe current location MAC address; using the at least one first locationas the physical location associated with the at least one task in thetask database; and identifying the at least one task using the taskdatabase and the at least one first location.
 4. The system of claim 2wherein the second priority is determined using at least the MAC addressfrom the WAP at the current location.
 5. The system of claim 1 whereinthe location information comprises global positioning system (GPS) data.6. The system of claim 1 wherein the location information comprisesradio frequency identification (RFID) data.
 7. A method of dynamicallyreprioritizing an information technology (IT) task database, the methodcomprising: receiving from an IT server a task database, the taskdatabase comprising at least one task having a first priority andassociated with a physical location; receiving from the IT server awireless access point (WAP) database, the WAP database comprising atleast one access address, the at least one access address associatedwith at least one first location; receiving location information; andtransforming the task database into a reprioritized task list, thereprioritized task list comprising the at least one task, the physicallocation associated with the at least one task, and a second priorityassociated with the at least one task, the second priority beingdifferent from the first priority, the second priority being based atleast in part on the location information.
 8. The method of claim 7wherein receiving the location information comprises connecting to awireless access point (WAP) at a current location, and identifying amedia access control (MAC) address associated with the WAP at thecurrent location.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein transforming the taskdatabase into the reprioritized task list comprises: using the currentlocation MAC address as the at least one access address in the WAPdatabase; identifying the at least one first location using the WAPdatabase and the current location MAC address; using the at least onefirst location as the physical location associated with the at least onetask in the task database; and identifying the at least one task usingthe task database and the at least one first location.
 10. The method ofclaim 7 wherein the second priority is determined using a plurality offactors, wherein one of the factors comprises a media access control(MAC) address from a WAP at a current location.
 11. The method of claim10 wherein another of the factors is a location of an end-user, type ofthe at least one task, complexity of the at least one task, urgency ofthe at least one task, severity of the at least one task, importance theend-user places on the at least one task, or importance of the end-userinvolved.
 12. The method of claim 7 wherein the location informationcomprises global positioning system (GPS) data.
 13. The method of claim7 wherein the location information comprises radio frequencyidentification (RFID) data.
 14. The method of claim 7 whereintransforming the task database into a reprioritized task list comprisesdynamically re-evaluating the first priority of the at least one task toinclude the location information.
 15. A remote computing device todynamically reprioritizing an information technology (IT) task database,the device comprising: computer hardware including at least a computerprocessor; and computer-readable instructions stored incomputer-readable storage, that when executed by the computer processor,cause the computer hardware to perform operations defined by thecomputer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructionscomprising receiving from a server a task database, the task databasecomprising at least one task having a first priority and associated witha physical location; receiving from the server a wireless access point(WAP) database, the WAP database comprising at least one access addressassociated with at least one first location; receiving locationinformation; and transforming the task database into a reprioritizedtask list, the reprioritized task list comprising the at least one task,the physical location associated with the at least one task, and asecond priority associated with the at least one task, the secondpriority being different from the first priority, the second prioritybeing based at least in part on the location information.
 16. The systemof claim 15 wherein the location information comprises a media accesscontrol (MAC) address from a wireless access point (WAP) at a currentlocation.
 17. The system of claim 16 wherein the current location isdefined at least in part by the signal strength of the WAP.
 18. Thesystem of claim 16 wherein the current location is defined at least inpart by proximity to the WAP.
 19. The system of claim 16 wherein thecurrent location is defined at least in part by authorization to accessthe WAP.
 20. The system of claim 15 wherein the computer-executableinstructions further comprise notifying a user of the second priority.